Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;dlffoot5&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFFOOT5’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; strong dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems; pompon Santini-type inflorescences with bright yellow green-colored ray florets; resistance to Fusarium; relative tolerance to low production temperatures; and good postproduction longevity.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Filed: Aug. 6, 2020

Ser. No. 63/062,375

Inventor/Applicant hereby claims the benefit of this provisional U.S. Patent Application.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFFOOT5’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

A Columbian Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Jun. 26, 2020. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFFOOT5’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plants with numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination in December, 2011 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db 10061, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db 41226, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in August, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings since August, 2012 in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFFOOT5’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFFOOT5’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit.     -   2. Strong dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Strong upright flowering stems.     -   5. Pompon Santini-type inflorescences with bright yellow         green-colored ray florets.     -   6. Resistant to Fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum).     -   7. Relatively tolerant to low production temperatures.     -   8. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are lighter yellow green in color than ray florets of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in inflorescence shape as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have pompon Santini-type inflorescences whereas plants of the male parent selection have semi-double type inflorescences. In addition, ray florets apices of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are praemorse to emarginate whereas ray florets apices of plants of the male parent selection are mammillate.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFGRA5’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,777. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘DLFGRA5’ in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are brighter yellow green than ray florets of plants of ‘DLFGRA5’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stein of ‘DLFFOOT5’ grown as a spray-type cut flower.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typical leaves (bottom of photographic sheet) and inflorescences (top of photographic sheet).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the autumn in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem spray-type plants and were eleven weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFFOOT5’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db             10061, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db             41226, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 13 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous pompon Santini-type cut             flower that is typically grown as a single stein spray-type;             upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and moderate to             rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 57.4             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 60 cm.         -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 17.8 cm.         -   Flowering stem length.—About 53.9 cm.         -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stem color, developing and developed.—Close to             146B and 148A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 9.1 cm. Width: About 5.8 cm. Shape, in overall             outline: Broadly ovate. Apex: Abruptly acute, minute. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed, coarsely crenate to             dentate; sinuses convergent to parallel and medium in depth             to deep. Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately             pubescent, not rugose; moderately velvety; matte. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Densely pubescent, prominent             venation; slightly velvety; matte. Venation pattern:             Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing leaves, upper             surface: Close to 137B to 137C. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Close to between 144A and 146B. Fully developed             leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A; venation, close to             146B. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;             venation, close to 148C. Petioles: Length: About 1 cm.             Diameter: About 2.5 mm by 3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Densely             pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to             146C; edges, close to 137B. Color, lower surface: Close to             147C; edges, close to 138A. Stipules: Quantity and             appearance: Two leafy stipules, opposite, at the petiole             attachment to the stem. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About             1.25 cm. Shape, in overall outline: Obovate to reniform;             occasionally cleft with one to three shallow incisions             distally. Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately             pubescent; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely             pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to NN137A.             Color, lower surface: Close to 147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Pompon Santini-type inflorescence form with             narrowly obovate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc             florets; inflorescences borne perpendicular to peduncles and             face upright; ray and disc florets develop acropetally on a             capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             48 days later when grown as a spray-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;             after a seven-day storage period, cut flowers will maintain             good color and substance for about two weeks in an interior             environment; inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Typically grown as a spray-type,             about 61 inflorescences develop per flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter, grown as a spray-type: About             3 cm. Depth (height), grown as a spray-type: About 1.6 cm.             Disc diameter, grown as a spray-type: About 8 mm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145A to 145B.         -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 9 mm. Diameter: About             1.2 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Texture and luster:             Distally, smooth and glabrous; proximally, moderately             pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Developing involucral             bracts, close to 137B, 137C and 138A; developing ray             florets, close to 144C and 144A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 170 arranged in             about five whorls. Length: About 1.2 cm, varying between 1.1             cm and 1.3 cm. Width: About 2.5 mm, varying between 2 mm and             3 mm. Shape: Narrowly obovate; concave and slightly             carinate. Apex: Praemorse to emarginate. Base: Cuneate and             fused at the base. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Aspect:             About 30° to 70° from vertical. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; slightly glossy. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             velvety; slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 144C. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 145B; towards the apex, close to 144C; venation,             similar to lamina colors; color does not change with             subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 145B to 145C; towards the apex, close to 144C; venation,             similar to lamina colors; color does not change with             subsequent development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 60 at the             center of the receptacle. Length: About 6 mm. Diameter:             About 1.25 mm. Shape: Lower 85% fused into a tube; upper 15%             free. Apex: Acute. Margin, free-part: Entire. Texture and             luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Close to             145C; distally, close to 9B and at the apex, close to N144C.             Color, fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 145B             to 145C; distally, close to 10A.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 24             arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 8 mm. Width:             About 3 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex: Narrowly obtuse.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Moderately pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface:             Close to 137A and 147B; lateral margins, translucent and             close to 156C to 156D and apical margins tinged with close             to N199A. Color, lower surface: Close to 137A and 137B;             lateral margins, translucent and close to 156C to 156D and             apical margins tinged with close to N199A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 3.5 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 2.5 mm. Length, third             peduncle: About 5.1 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About             2.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle:             Upright. Aspect, third peduncle: About 30° from the             flowering stem axis. Texture and luster: Moderately             pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 138A and 143A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:             About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 145C to 145D. Anther             size: About 0.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther             color: Close to N144A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 14A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc             florets. Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About             5 mm. Style length: About 4.5 mm. Style color: Close to             145B. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft to             three-parted, decurrent. Stigma color: Close to N144B. Ovary             color: Close to 157A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     been observed to be resistant to Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum     spp. chrysanthemi (strain FoNL1)). To date, plants of the new     Chrysanthemum have not been observed to be resistant to pests and     other pathogens common to Chrysanthemum plants grown under     commercial conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFFOOT5’ as illustrated and described. 